Post-Grad Guidance

Coming from someone who has faked the real world thing pretty well in the decade since graduating college, I'd like to offer some advice for those of you who will be tasseling up during the next few weeks.

Work hard to achieve your dreams in the very little time you have left over from writing, reading and sending emails, as that is what you'll mostly do every day, regardless of your career.

Although your college life is over, you will never stop learning. For example, depending on whether you live in Shockoe Bottom or the Fan, you will soon learn that walking between them back to your apartment at 2 a.m. takes roughly two hours.

The close relationships you made in college will stay with you forever. Acquaintances you only sorta know? You'll forget their names but bump into them from time to time at Kroger; just talk about the crazy Virginia weather and humidity with these people.

The world is a source of inspiration and innovation. Richmond is all of these things, plus neat statues and an overabundance of foodies.

Armed with your knowledge in subjects ranging from economics and biology to sociology and literature, look to your future with excitement and wonder! Also, if you are a history major, could you please tell me who Maury is and how he received a whole monument?

When an overloaded inbox gets you down, remember what the great Virginian and third President Thomas Jefferson once said: "Martha, how am I ever going to reply to all this damn email?